Rammed-Earth Reaper, another unrepentantly creative excursion

Rammed-Earth Design – Why ‘The Reaper?’

This Reel was designed for Instagram and has now found its way here for wider exposure:

Connectivity is a mercurial thing. Especially if one is predisposed to non-linear thinking as both I and Rammed-Earth specialist Clifton Schooley, are.

Never-the-less a wee bit o’ man ‘splainin’ on the choice of music may somewhat entertain, and believe me, the actual story will not, and perhaps can not be fully elucidated here in this humble scribb in part because it would simply take up too much space. So take this with the pinch of salt and the Cluedo intent (yes, we all know that Captain Peacock did it, but it’s all part of the game) in which it is framed.

Upon a time, when I had one of the most engaging high end systems I’ve ever heard, (I’ve had a few as it became my specialism for quarter of a century) something remarkable transpired behind the velvet curtains and arched doorways of my modest abode. Well OK, if you must know the gory details of the pure analogue valve system that powered the moment - here goes:

Speakers - Gale 401’s

Preamp – Luxman CL32 (Updated).

Power Amp – TVA 1 X (A particularly good example)

Garrard 401, fire glass plinth and custom built sand filled base

Technics EPA 500 ‘Ruby Bearinged’ Titanium Nitride tonearm medium mass version

Glanz MF51 Moving Flux Cartridge with Shibata profiled stylus

XLO Copper enamelled Speaker Cables

Solid Core Copper custom Telecom derived inter connects

Now that’s out of the way, let me set the scene: I had just got home from the Hi-Fi studio I used to work at and noticed that the sky had darkened over and the air was somewhat charged. Sensing a storm, I opened the windows just as the skies resounded with deep roiling thunder followed by a cascade of lightening. I could smell the ozone and pushed the windows as far as I could to get more of the enlivening air.

I reached for 1 of my all time cherished joints, which on this day was the 12” version of ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’ by The Blue Oyster Cult.

I carefully dropped the stylus onto the black gold (vinyl) and got into my favourite spot against the wall and closed my eyes as I settled into a half lotus and quieted my thoughts to concentrate more fully.

The screechy toppy sound that even the most expensive systems I’ve heard yield from this recording was entirely absent, but the guitar riffs, the gorgeous palate of analogue drama and energy that only real vinyl has was eminently present and immersive. The Gale 401’s, 4 paper pulp coned units (incidentally the whole instrument was capable of boxless stereo bass) extracted every staccato rhythmic note, every nuance of low register tonality and mid presence as the high hats materialised as harmonically realistic effigies in the room apparently a mere 9 feet or so away from me. And the voices?  Just disembodied souls shimmering the potency of the ether - it was sheer magic. To add to the excitement the wind was rousing and the curtains danced in its wake as if a presence was dwindling at the aperture between my audio sanctum and the outside storm.

The whole thing was literally and figuratively electrifying leading me to another out of the body experience in which I saw the passion play of 2 lovers in their sacred tryst, on the edge of the window ledge, reaching for eternity as in days of the Pre-Raphaelite and Troubadour inspired romantics. But there was something else, too. Something subtle and empowering – suffice it to say that I gained true knowledge of what it is to cross over to the other side, or at least be on the threshold of that journey – and I was not in any shape or form, afeared.

Apart from classic virtues, a rejection of the built-in obsolescence of toxic consumerism and the soullessness of modern buildings, materials and design in general, you will have to wait for a further transmission on how this all connects up with Rammed Earth – and the Reaper...but until then, since there’s an adequate smattering of clues in this script, I suggest you augment the mood of the moment by using your imagination to make the final leap. By way of encouragement, as Suns of Arqua remind us There is no fear in here, so dont worry about nuthin, Ive been there before an Im on your side.

Ta-ta for now

PS, ancient attentives will recognise the thumbnail caption, courtesy of Evanescence, Wake Me Up video

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